Bedding

ABSTRACT

A blanket for use by one or more persons, the blanket comprising a sheet of material having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges, the top edge is reinforced and substantially linear, the top edge has a first end, a middle and a second end, a first opening located between the middle of the top edge and the first end of the blanket, the opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of a first person using the blanket and a second opening located between the middle of the top edge and the second end of the blanket, the opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of a second person using the blanket, wherein each opening permits a blanket to be securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the first person and the second person using the blanket.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The instant invention relates to bedding materials which are designed to better enclose and remain in place around the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blankets have been used for centuries to aid in both keeping warm and in obtaining a restful night's sleep. Most people have experienced more than one night of restless sleep due to being too cold. This will often result from a blanket becoming dislodged and exposing part or all of a person while they sleep. The resulting cold shocks the system, waking a person from their slumber.

Over the year, numerous attempts have been made to aid in keeping a blanket in place while it's user sleeps. These attempts have ranged from the outlandish, to the downright dangerous. One could simply wrap themselves in a blanket, tightly confining their bodies in an effort to remain warm. However, this is often too constrictive and uncomfortable to provide a pleasant and restful night of sleep. Another attempt was the use of a sleeping bag design, but again, this is not really practical for a bed and aesthetically horrible. Attempts have been made using straps and fasteners to either strap the blanket to the user, or to strap the user under the blanket to the mattress and hope that an emergency did not arise.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,924 discloses a swaddle blanket with a first edge side, a second edge side, a bottom edge, a top edge and a shallow crew neck for engaging the back of an infant's neck. The swaddle blanket also includes a tongue which is used to wrap over an infant's torso and behind the infant's back. U.S. Pat. No. 7,945,978 discloses an extension which is designed to be attached and supplement a duvet or duvet cover. It also includes through holes which are used to pass through straps or strings which are tied together to tie the user down to the bed.

What is needed is a simple, user-friendly design which offers comfort and safety to the person under the blanket. Thus, there is clearly a need to create a simple, practical blanket which may be easily configured to cover a user completely and comfortably, while maintaining the safety and easy movement of the user. The instant invention is designed to provide a blanket that addresses at least some of the above mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A blanket for use by one or more persons, the blanket comprising a sheet of material having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges, the top edge is reinforced and substantially linear, the top edge has a first end, a middle and a second end, a first opening located between the middle of the top edge and the first end of the blanket, the opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of a first person using the blanket and a second opening located between the middle of the top edge and the second end of the blanket, the opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of a second person using the blanket, wherein each opening permits a blanket to be securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the first person and the second person using the blanket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1A is a top view of a blanket of one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 1B is a top view of a blanket of one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 1C is a top view of a blanket of one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 1D is a top view of a blanket of one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 2A is a top view of a blanket of one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 2B is a top view of a blanket of one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 3A is a top view of a blanket of one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 3B is a top view of a blanket of one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is a side/head view of a prior art blanket being used by two people on a bed.

FIG. 5 is a side/head view of a blanket of one embodiment of the instant invention being used by two people in a bed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter in the following detailed description of the invention, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are described. Indeed, this invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals, indicate like elements, there is shown in the Figures an embodiment of a blanket 10 for use over a person, the blanket comprising a sheet of material having a top edge 20, a bottom edge 30, and a pair of side edges 40. The blanket 10 may be any size known in the art, and more specifically, a size selected from the group including, but not limited to, twin, double, queen, king, California king, or a combination thereof. Blankets have an upper surface 70 and an under surface 75. Additionally, the blanket 10 may be any type of blanket which may be used to cover a sleeping person or persons. The blanket 10 may be selected from the group including, but not limited to, a bed spread, a comforter, a sheet, a duvet, a quilt, a down comforter cover, an electric blanket, or a combination thereof. The top edge 20 is reinforced and substantially linear and has a first end 22, a middle 24, a second end 26 and a pair of top corners 28. The top edge 20 also has an opening 50 located at approximately the middle 24 of the top edge of the blanket 10.

The opening 50 is designed to fit closely to a neck of the person using the blanket 10, and the opening 50 also permits the blanket 10 to be securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the person using the blanket. The opening 50 may be in any shape which permits it to be secured around the neck of a person using the blanket 10. The shape of the opening may be selected from the group including, but not limited to, U-shaped, V-shaped, square shaped, circular shaped or a combination thereof. The opening 50 includes a first end 52 located on one side of the opening 50 at the top edge, a second end 54 located on the opposite side of the opening at the top edge, an opening edge 56 running the length of the opening between the first end 52 and the second end 54, and a center 55 located at the halfway point between the first end 52 and the second end 54.

Another embodiment of the instant invention discloses a blanket 110 for use by one or more persons, the blanket comprising a sheet of material having a top edge 120, a bottom edge 130, and a pair of side edges 140. The blanket 10 may be any size known in the art, and more specifically, a size selected from the group including, but not limited to, twin, double, queen, king, California king, or a combination thereof. The blanket has an upper surface 70 and an under surface 175. Additionally, the blanket 110 may be any type of blanket which may be used to cover a sleeping person or persons. The blanket 110 may be selected from the group including, but not limited to, a bed spread, a comforter, a sheet, a duvet, a quilt, a down comforter cover, an electric blanket, or a combination thereof. The top edge 120 is reinforced and substantially linear and has a first end 122, a middle 124, a second end 126 and a pair of top corners 128. The top edge 120 also has a first opening 150 located between the middle 124 of the top edge 120 and the first end 122 of the blanket, where the opening 150 is designed to fit closely to a neck of a first person using the blanket, and a second opening 160 located between the middle 124 of the top edge 120 and the second end 126 of the blanket 110, where the opening is designed to fit closely to a neck of a second person using the blanket 110.

Each opening 150, 160 permits a blanket to be securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the first person and the second person using the blanket 110. Each opening 150, 160 may be in any shape which permits it to be secured around the neck of a person using the blanket 110. The shape of the opening may be selected from the group including, but not limited to, U-shaped, V-shaped, square shaped, circular shaped or a combination thereof.

The instant invention further includes a method of securing a person under a blanket 10 comprising the steps of:

a. providing a blanket 10 for use over a person, the blanket comprising:

-   -   a sheet of material having a top edge 20, a bottom edge 30, and         a pair of side edges 40;         -   the top edge 20 is reinforced and substantially linear and             has a first end 22, a middle 24, a second end 26 and a pair             of top corners 28;         -   the top edge 20 also has an opening 50 located at             approximately the middle 24 of the top edge of the blanket             10;     -   an opening 50 includes a first end 52 located on one side of the         opening at the top edge, a second end 54 located on the opposite         side of the opening at the top edge, an opening edge 56 running         the length of the opening between the first end 52 and the         second end 54, and a center 55 located at the halfway point         between the first end 52 and the second end 54, the opening         being designed to fit closely to a neck of the person using the         blanket, wherein the opening permits the blanket 10 to be         securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders 192 and head 194         of the person 190 using the blanket;

b. placing the blanket 10 over a person who is lying on a relatively flat surface with the opening edge six placed at the neck of the person to expose the person's head 194;

c. tucking the first end 52 of the opening 50 under the person's first shoulder and neck;

d. tucking the second end 54 of the opening 50 under the person's second shoulder and neck; and

e. tucking each of the side edges 40 around the person's arms, body and legs to completely enclose the person.

In the above method, the opening 50 may be in any shape which permits it to be secured around the neck of a person using the blanket 10. The shape of the opening may be selected from the group including, but not limited to, U-shaped, V-shaped, square shaped, circular shaped or a combination thereof. In the above method, the blanket 10 may be any size known in the art, and more specifically, a size selected from the group including, but not limited to, twin, double, queen, king, California king, or a combination thereof. The Blanket has an upper surface 70 and an under surface 75. Additionally, the blanket 10 may be any type of blanket which may be used to cover a sleeping person or persons. The blanket 10 may be selected from the group including, but not limited to, a bed spread, a comforter, a sheet, a duvet, a quilt, a down comforter cover, an electric blanket, or a combination thereof.

The instant invention further includes a method of securing one or more persons under a blanket 110 comprising the steps of:

a. providing a blanket 110 for use by one or more persons, the blanket including:

-   -   a sheet of material having a top edge 120, a bottom edge 130,         and a pair of side edges 140;         -   the top edge 120 is reinforced and substantially linear;         -   the top edge 120 having a first end 122, a middle 124 and a             second end 126;     -   a first opening 150 located between the middle 124 of the top         edge and the first end 122 of the blanket;         -   the first opening 150 including a first end 152 located on             one side of the first opening 150 at the top edge 120, a             second end 154 located on the opposite side of the first             opening 150 at the top edge 120, an opening edge 156 running             the length of the first opening 150 between the first end             152 and the second end 154, and a center 155 located at the             halfway point between the first end 152 and the second end             154;         -   the first opening 150 being designed to fit closely to a             neck of a first person using the blanket 110, wherein the             first opening 150 permits the blanket 110 to be securely             tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the first             person using the blanket;     -   a second opening 160 located between the middle 124 of the top         edge and the second end 126 of the blanket 110;         -   the second opening 160 including a first end 162 located on             one side of the second opening 160 at the top edge 120, a             second end 164 located on the opposite side of the second             opening 160 at the top edge 120, an opening edge 166 running             the length of the second opening 160 between the first end             162 and the second end 164, and a center 165 located at the             halfway point between the first end 162 and the second end             164;         -   the second opening 160 being designed to fit closely to a             neck of a second person using the blanket 110, wherein the             opening 160 permits a blanket 110 to be securely tucked in             behind the neck, shoulders and head of the second person             using the blanket;     -   a center section 180 located between the first opening 150 and         second opening 160;

b. placing the blanket 110 over a first person and a second person who are lying on a relatively flat surface (such as a mattress 115) with the first opening edge 156 placed at the neck of the first person to expose the first person's head and with the second opening edge 166 placed at the neck of the second person to expose the second person's head;

c. tucking the first end 152 of the first opening 150 under the first person's first shoulder and neck;

d. tucking the second end 164 of the first opening 150 under the first person's second shoulder and neck;

e. tucking the first end 162 of the second opening 160 under the second person's first shoulder and neck;

f. tucking the second end 64 of the second opening 160 under the second person's second shoulder and neck;

g. tucking the center section 180 in between the first person and the second person; and

h. tucking each of the side edges 140 around the first and second person's arms, body and legs to completely enclose each person.

Any method described herein may incorporate any design element contained within this application and any other document/application incorporated by reference herein. Any design element contained within this application may be incorporated into any embodiment contained within this application.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention. The invention illustratively discloses herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. 

I claim:
 1. A blanket for use over a person, the blanket comprising: a sheet of material having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges; the top edge is reinforced and substantially linear; the top edge having a first end, a middle and a second end; and an opening located at approximately the middle of the top edge of the blanket, the opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of the person using the blanket, wherein the opening permits a blanket to be securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the person using the blanket.
 2. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the opening being in a shape selected from the group including, but not limited to, U-shaped, V-shaped, square shaped, circular shaped, or a combination thereof.
 3. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the blanket being a size selected from the group including, but not limited to, twin, double, queen, king, California king, or a combination thereof.
 4. The blanket of claim 1 wherein the blanket being selected from the group including, but not limited to, a bed spread, a comforter, a sheet, a duvet, a quilt, a down comforter cover, or a combination thereof.
 5. A blanket for use by one or more persons, the blanket comprising: a sheet of material having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges; the top edge is reinforced and substantially linear; the top edge having a first end, a middle and a second end; a first opening located between the middle of the top edge and the first end of the blanket, the opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of a first person using the blanket; and a second opening located between the middle of the top edge and the second end of the blanket, the opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of a second person using the blanket, wherein each opening permits a blanket to be securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the first person and the second person using the blanket.
 6. The blanket of claim 5 wherein the opening being in a shape selected from the group including, but not limited to, U-shaped, V-shaped, square shaped, circular shaped, or a combination thereof.
 7. The blanket of claim 5 wherein the blanket being a size selected from the group including, but not limited to, twin, double, queen, king, California king, or a combination thereof.
 8. The blanket of claim 5 wherein the blanket being selected from the group including, but not limited to, a bed spread, a comforter, a sheet, a duvet, a quilt, a down comforter cover, or a combination thereof.
 9. A method of securing a person under a blanket comprising the steps of: providing a blanket for use over a person, the blanket comprising: a sheet of material having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges; the top edge is reinforced and substantially linear; the top edge having a first end, a middle and a second end; and an opening located at approximately the middle of the top edge of the blanket; the opening including a first end located on one side of the opening at the top edge, a second end located on the opposite side of the opening at the top edge, an opening edge running the length of the opening between the first end and the second end, and a center located at the halfway point between the first end and the second end; the opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of the person using the blanket, wherein the opening permits a blanket to be securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the person using the blanket; placing the blanket over a person who is lying on a relatively flat surface with the opening edge placed at the neck of the person to expose the person's head; tucking the first end of the opening under the person's first shoulder and neck; tucking the second end of the opening under the person's second shoulder and neck; and tucking each of the side edges around the person's arms, body and legs to completely enclose the person.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the opening being in a shape selected from the group including, but not limited to, U-shaped, V-shaped, square shaped, circular shaped, or a combination thereof.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the blanket being a size selected from the group including, but not limited to, twin, double, queen, king, California king, or a combination thereof.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the blanket being selected from the group including, but not limited to, a bed spread, a comforter, a sheet, a duvet, a quilt, a down comforter cover, or a combination thereof.
 13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: providing a blanket for use by one or more persons, the blanket including: a sheet of material having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges; the top edge is reinforced and substantially linear; the top edge having a first end, a middle and a second end; a first opening located between the middle of the top edge and the first end of the blanket; the first opening including a first end located on one side of the first opening at the top edge, a second end located on the opposite side of the first opening at the top edge, an opening edge running the length of the first opening between the first end and the second end, and a center located at the halfway point between the first end and the second end; the first opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of a first person using the blanket, wherein the opening permits a blanket to be securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the first person using the blanket; a second opening located between the middle of the top edge and the second end of the blanket; the second opening including a first end located on one side of the second opening at the top edge, a second end located on the opposite side of the second opening at the top edge, an opening edge running the length of the second opening between the first end and the second end, and a center located at the halfway point between the first end and the second end; the second opening being designed to fit closely to a neck of a second person using the blanket, wherein the opening permits a blanket to be securely tucked in behind the neck, shoulders and head of the second person using the blanket; a center section located between the first opening and second opening; placing the blanket over a first person and a second person who are lying on a relatively flat surface with the first opening edge placed at the neck of the first person to expose the first person's head and with the second opening edge placed at the neck of the second person to expose the second person's head; tucking the first end of the first opening under the first person's first shoulder and neck; tucking the second end of the first opening under the first person's second shoulder and neck; tucking the first end of the second opening under the second person's first shoulder and neck; tucking the second end of the second opening under the second person's second shoulder and neck; tucking the center section in between the first person and the second person; and tucking each of the side edges around the first and second person's arms, body and legs to completely enclose each person.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the opening being in a shape selected from the group including, but not limited to, U-shaped, V-shaped, square shaped, or a combination thereof.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the blanket being a size selected from the group including, but not limited to, twin, double, queen, king, California king, or a combination thereof.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the blanket being selected from the group including, but not limited to, a bed spread, a comforter, a sheet, a duvet, a quilt, a down comforter cover, or a combination thereof. 